Robert Gore is an emergency physician and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). Drawing from 7+ years of experience, Robert hopes to reach all NYC frontline workers — police officers, healthcare workers, educators, firefighters — with a new virtual training program in holistic care and trauma-informed response. Robert envisions a New York where providers and recipients of care have the tools to transform trauma, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Robert Gore is an emergency physician and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). Drawing from 7+ years of experience, Robert hopes to reach all NYC frontline workers — police officers, healthcare workers, educators, firefighters — with a new virtual training program in holistic care and trauma-informed response. Robert envisions a New York where providers and recipients of care have the tools to transform trauma, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Robert Gore is an emergency physician and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). Drawing from 7+ years of experience, Robert hopes to reach all NYC frontline workers — police officers, healthcare workers, educators, firefighters — with a new virtual training program in holistic care and trauma-informed response. Robert envisions a New York where providers and recipients of care have the tools to transform trauma, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Kit Yan and Melissa Li want to bring vibrant nontraditional voices to Broadway with their musical Interstate, a coming-of-age story about Queer and Trans Asian-American experiences. The musical, developed in NYC over 8 years, opened in Minneapolis to packed audiences and rave reviews. This underdog show wants to return home to New York and open on Broadway, empowering an important community of New Yorkers who deserve to be seen and heard.

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

Cielo wants to ensure all marginalized NYC students can realize their college dreams — not just a lucky few with top test scores or leadership roles. Cielo is building an online resource called Road to Uni that will act as a supercharged, hyper-accessible college advisor, open to all and offering a gamified roadmap with quick informational videos, live support, and actionable resources to navigate the overwhelming college admissions process.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Robert Gore is an emergency physician and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). Drawing from 7+ years of experience, Robert hopes to reach all NYC frontline workers — police officers, healthcare workers, educators, firefighters — with a new virtual training program in holistic care and trauma-informed response. Robert envisions a New York where providers and recipients of care have the tools to transform trauma, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Robert Gore is an emergency physician and founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). Drawing from 7+ years of experience, Robert hopes to reach all NYC frontline workers — police officers, healthcare workers, educators, firefighters — with a new virtual training program in holistic care and trauma-informed response. Robert envisions a New York where providers and recipients of care have the tools to transform trauma, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes.

Suzette is a pediatrician seeking to transform the way healthcare is delivered in NYC’s marginalized communities by using a ‘reverse integration’ model of care. After working with a single mom of seven who had become homeless after fleeing domestic violence, Suzette was inspired to collaborate within the fragmented social service / mental health system to more holistically support families. The Strong Children Wellness model embeds pediatric clinics within existing community-based social service and mental health organizations so that a comprehensive team — not just doctors — can fully address the needs of children and families. Strong Children Wellness plans to pilot a value-based payment system for pediatric care that is tied to improved health and well-being outcomes.

Chino’s lived experience as a formerly incarcerated, Black and Indiginous Trans person provides deep inspiration for NuLegacy, a program designed to support Black, Indigenous, Queer & Trans New Yorkers whose lives have been devastated by prison involvement.  His radical idea?  To use ancestral healing practices and connect folks — sometimes for the first time — to nature.  For the last 20 years, Chino has taught youth and families in Bedstuy that stewardship of land and community can lead to healing and transformation.

Father Michael Lopez is a Catholic priest and the creator of Hungry Monks, a mobile food pantry based in Ridgewood that exponentially increased service during the coronavirus pandemic. (If you’d asked 8-year-old Mike what kind of priest he would want to be, his answer probably would have been simply “a good one.”) Michael has transformed his church basement into a shelter — using a monastery model — and is creating a roadmap for other faith-based institutions to follow suit.

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Edafe is striving to end street homelessness through partnerships with faith institutions and with targeted advocacy. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is more than a shelter; it’s a space where asylum-seekers and immigrants can access community and start to rebuild their lives. There are currently 83,000 people looking for housing in NYC, and Edafe’s mission is to ensure every New Yorker can transition with dignity to safe housing.

While serving as a PTA member at her children’s school, Maria developed a plan to help immigrant women gain access to education in the USA. This vision became Centro de Recursos Educativos para Adultos (CREA), a space in East Harlem offering adult literacy and education to parents across the five boroughs. The program currently serves 170+ people. More than an education platform, CREA equips parents with skills to become active participants in and advocates for their children’s growth.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Yin believes Chinatown’s survival depends on the community’s ability to advocate for equal access to resources. Together with an intergenerational group of volunteers, she built Think!Chinatown, a non-profit focusing on neighborhood engagement fostered by storytelling and the arts. Through projects like Chinatown Arts Week, The Art of Storytelling, & Everyday Chinatown, T!C honors, explores, and presents the culture and history of the community that have long made NYC’s Chinatown a vibrant immigrant neighborhood. Guided by an older generation of Chinatown organizers, Yin directs community actions to address neighborhood issues. Yin dreams of hosting kitchen classes, artists residencies, art exhibits, & community workshops in a permanent space for and in Chinatown.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

One in 15 New Yorkers lives in public housing — many of them the public servants who keep New York City safe and vibrant. But too often this huge and critical system is overlooked or given up as an intractable problem. Rasmia wants to reinvent our public housing system by building networks from generative, community-centered relationships to embrace “truth and reconciliation,” and develop real action plans to change the system. 

Manuel’s journey across the Mexico-US border at the age of five with his mother sparked a passion for helping others envision and find opportunity. As an early DREAMer – a movement of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children – Manuel now leads New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a grassroots organization that provides NYC’s day laborers and new immigrants with support services and leadership development programs. Manuel wants to test new ways of organizing this critical and essential workforce citywide around cooperative work and social and economic justice.

Somia is a community organizer, educator, and advocate. Somia’s passion for empowering women and fighting for human rights began when she was a student leader at Sana’a University in Yemen, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Mathematics. Since moving to New York City, Somia has led Arab women in south Brooklyn. Somia is launching a bakery that will double as an economic empowerment vehicle for Arab American women in their community. Structured as a cooperative, Somia’s social enterprise can become a blueprint for other affinity groups and neighborhoods that aspire to amplify their members’ talents to build economic assets.

Su is transforming urban transit for the many New Yorkers without access to the city’s public transportation system. Dollaride eases the connection between riders and vans-for-hire with transparent routes, consistent schedules, and mobile payments. Su hopes to connect the extensive dollar van network to existing public infrastructure and expand their territory to improve economic mobility.

Stefan is a user-centric designer who wants to make it easier for people with disabilities to thrive in New York City. Stefan and his team have developed tools that make a variety of daily tasks more accessible, like an easy- to-deploy lightweight wheelchair ramp; a multipurpose eating utensil; and an arm-support to help users play video games. His vision is simple: achieve accessibility and independence for people with disabilities by re-imagining everyday devices.